Augustus Frederick, prince of Great Britain and Ireland, duke of Sussex, the 6th son of George III. of England, born in Buckingham palace, Jan. 27, 1773, died in Kensington palace, April 21, 1843. He studied at Gottin-gen, and subsequently travelled in Italy. While at Rome in 1793 he married Lady Augusta Murray, daughter of the Catholic earl of Dunmore; but as there were some doubts as to the validity of the marriage, the wedding ceremony was repeated in London, Dec. 5, 1793. This marriage was annulled, however, by the prerogative court of Canterbury, as contrary to the act 12 George III., cap. 3, which declared that no descendant of George II. should marry without the consent of the crown. Lady Augusta separated from the duke immediately after the publication of this sentence, having borne him a son and daughter, who took the name D'Este. In 1801 the prince was made a peer, and received a parliamentary grant of £12,000 per annum, which was subsequently increased by the addition of £9,000. In the house of lords the duke took the liberal side on most public questions, as the abolition of the slave trade, Catholic and Jewish emancipation, the reform bill, and free trade.

In 1810 he was elected grand master of the freemasons; in 1816, president of the society for the encouragement of the useful arts; and in 1830, president of the royal society. He was a munificent patron of literature and art, and possessed one of the finest libraries of England. His liberal opinions in politics, and the part which he took in favor of Queen Caroline, made him unpopular at court, but before the death of George IV. a reconciliation took place between them.